I have found first day is always an anxious time for both instructors and students. I always try to get the students to loosen up by introducing myself a bit and my history as a design instructor and why I became an architect. Then I ask them to introduce themselves and ask why do they want to study architecture? Many students have common backgrounds or motive and stories on how they got to the class and this helps establish a common ground between all of us as we are all on the same journey and I am their guide more than their instructor. I then ask for a volunteer to draw a specific object on the white board we then discuss as the idea of the object in terms of design qualities (not drawing abilities of the student). The student then hand the marker off to another volunteer who then modifies (or draws a new object) from all the input that was received in the dialogue. This gets the class not only speaking but also thinking critically about the issues we will be discussing throughout the semester.

I've been teaching for about 10 years now and one habit I can't break is cutting off the students before they complete an answer. I don't always do it but sometimes..... It is not malicious, but often the students answer will set off a new idea for me and I'm asking a followup or discussing the idea before the student finishes. I have tried to break the habit but without success. I often find myself at break time talking to the student and making amends. One of these days I'll figure out how to stop without forcing those long pauses where you then realize they actually were done 20 seconds ago.

You have to choose your teaching methot to fit how the student retain the information you present to them.

Function and presenting yourself professional--working on getting a student to come forward in responding to the subject.

I am the new instructor trainer on my campus so I am dealing with a lot of instructors with long developed bad habits. How do you change the habits without breaking the spirit?

I believe there is more technique involved here than the 'proverbial right way and wrong way'. there are many personal attributes that should guide a instructors check list for his 1st meeting; personality, experience, train of thought and message you want the students to leave with. The module suggests there is a right sequence and an obviously an incorrect sequence in how to welcome and take charge of your class. Personally I would not use this sequence and would amend to accomodate what I think flows best and what it is the last thing I want the students to take away with them..

I do not want my class too boring. I believe we should use nice visual aides to comprehend course material for students. However, I do not know what kind of visual aides except power points we should use in the classroom. Do you have any idea?

I usually get really nervous when seeing new students in the classroom. Do you have any idea that I can relax to see them at the first day of class? I also would to know how I memorize the student name quickly. It is so hard for me to memorize their names.

I have a question about teaching style. All instructors have teaching style. I would like to learn very effective and unique style. I am a relatively new so that it is nice to know other teaching style.

Lesson planning is important so students can feel more at ease with the information

Time management and being prepared should be the most important cause

I always use multiple choice so i can cover everyone learning ability

I find that using cats has helped alot in my students ability to retain information

I have found when i lead them in a direction i can get almost all my student to question me when i say something off the wall to get back on topic

Last term I used power point to teach and found i was not reaching all my students so i started having them read the power points. They all got it and grades went up 25%. I did discussion after each slide. This really works

I think the color sugestion and the classroom layout is a good idea looking at each other is far better than looking at the back of each others head

Every class is unique. Adjusting to the needs of the student's learning style makes the instructor's ability to be creative and motivating a dynamic and essential quality.

The impression you leave with your students after the first day is going to carry over for the rest of the term. Self-confidence, knowledge of the subject, and making the students comfortable in their environment as a way of showing that you care about their well-being will go a long way on bringing down barriers between the instructor and student as the class continues.

Being prepared ahead of time plays the dual role of projecting your professionalism to the students and building confidence in yourself as a responsible educator.

This is my first year as an instructor, and I have to admit it's been somewhat daunting. Between learning the curriculum, devising lesson plans, completing paperwork, and dealing with the occasional "stage-fright", I find myself second-guessing from time to time. Looking to the more experienced instructors for guidance and reflecting on my own past eduction has helped the most when dealing with these challenges. Organizing my workload and becoming more comfortable in my role as an educator are the most important goals I've set for myself.